Spike.



UNITED THOMAS BOOTH,

STATES OF BOISE, IDAHO.

SPIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

Application filed June 22. 1907. Serial No. 380,332.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Tnoams BOOTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boise, in the county of Ada and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spikes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in spikes of that type which are commonly utilized for attaching rails to the ties upon which they rest, and aims to provide a novel means for locking the'spikes against withdrawal and preventing lateral bending of the spike heads.

To this end the invention resides principally in the provision of a spike provided with a laterally extend ing shoulder, and a key designed to be driven at one side of the spike, the point of the key being adapted to be deflected by the shoulder and the said key carrying a prong constituting a brace for locking the head of the spike against being bent outwardly.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a sectional view through a tie showing the improved spike applied. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View of the spike. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the locking key Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the invention the numeral 1 designates a spike which is somewhat similar in shape to those commonly in use, being provided at its upper extremity with the laterally extending head 2 adapted to engage the flange of a rail or similar member, the opposite end of the spike being sharpened to form a point 3. An enlargement 4 is formed upon one side of the body portion of the spike, preferably the rear face, the upper portion of the enlargement constituting a curved shoulder 5, while the lower portion is gradually decreased in thickness whereby an inclined side 6 is formed which prevents the said enlargement from interfering with the driving of the spike in the usual man- A locking key 7 is utilized in connection with the spike, the said locking key being provided at its upper end with the head 8 and gradually tapering toward the lower extremity which is beveled at S. Projecting downwardly and outwardly from the upper portion of the locking key 7 is a prong 10 which is designed to engage the upper portion of the tie or similar member in which the spike is driven and prevent the head of the spike from being bent rearwardly.

As will be readily apparent from Fig. 1 the locking key is driven against the rear face of the spike, the beveled extremity 9 of the same being designed to engage the curved shoulder 5 of the spike whereby it is deflected laterally. This laterally deflected end of the key effectively prevents the spike from being withdrawn. In the practical application of the key it is designed that the head 8 thereof shall normally extend slightly above the head of the spike so that should the spike become loose it can be readily tightened by driving the key inward a short distance.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

The combination of a spike, and a key designed to be driven at one side of the spike and formed with an outwardly deflected prong.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS BOOTH. [L. s.]

Witnesses I F. J. Ganvnn, F. V. STANLEY. 

